The productive lifespan of dairy cows has shortened dramatically as production demands have increased. Improving cow longevity is both a welfare and sustainability priority for the dairy industry.
Short productive lives in dairy cows reflect and cause welfare compromise. Cows culled in their second or third year often spend much of their lives in poor health. Improving longevity through breeding for health traits, better transition cow management, and reducing disease incidence would benefit both cow welfare and farm sustainability. Consumers can support longevity-focused farming by seeking brands that measure and publish cow productive lifespan data.